10 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend in Washington, DC | washington.org
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10 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day
Weekend in Washington, DC
1. You can’t talk about Memorial Day in DC without mentioning the National Memorial Day
Parade.
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American Veterans Center and honors those servicemen and servicewomen who put their
lives on the line to protect our freedoms. Set on Constitution Avenue, the march wows
audiences exceeding 250,000 strong with marching bands, active duty and retired military
units, youth groups, floats and hundreds of veterans. This year's parade is set for Monday,
May 25, starting at 2 p.m.
2. Arlington National Cemetery hosts an array of events to mark Memorial Day. Head to the
Memorial Amphitheater at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 25 for an official Memorial Day service,
sponsored by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington. Meanwhile, more than a quarter
million mini flags will decorate the cemetery's headstones. For another powerful tribute, head
to the Tomb of the Unknowns, which is guarded by Tomb Guard Sentinels 24 hours a day,
365 days out of the year. Stick around and you’ll see the impressive Changing of the Guard
ceremony, which occurs every half-hour until the cemetery closes at 7 p.m.
At 4 p.m. The Women in Military Service for America Memorial, located at the gateway to
Arlington National Cemetery, will hold a ceremony that includes formal military honors, a
keynote address, wreath-layings and the Memorial’s signature event, the scattering of rose
petals in tribute to departed comrades.
3. A legion of hogs descends on DC each Memorial Day weekend for the Rolling Thunder
Motorcycle Rally. This “ride for freedom” draws upwards of 900,000 motorcycle riders from all
over the country who journey to honor POWs and MIAs. While the riding rally, held on
Sunday, May 24, is the main draw each year, there are other Rolling Thunder events on the
docket, too: a candlelight vigil will be conducted on Friday, May 22; an official vendor site,
Thunder Alley, will be opened at 9 a.m. at 22nd Street and Constitution Avenue NW, on
Saturday, May 23; and on Sunday evening, look for Rolling Thunder’s Saluting Our Troops
concert near the Vietnam War Memorial.
4. At dusk on Memorial Day eve, the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol transforms into a patriotic
concert venue. The free performance pays tribute to those who have served our country, and
with a portion of the evening being dedicated to honoring current service members, there will
be many opportunities for you to recognize active servicewoman or serviceman. As for the
concert, it will be co-hosted this year by Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna and Emmy Awardwinner Gary Sinise, two actors who have taken on veterans causes in recent years, and it
features the National Symphony Orchestra.
5. Strolling the National Mall is a Memorial Day must-do. Start with honoring the most famous
war general in U.S. History by visiting the Washington Monument. From there, pay your
http://washington.org/article/10-ways-celebrate-memorial-day-weekend-washington-dc
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10 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend in Washington, DC | washington.org
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respects at the National World War II Memorial, which was dedicated in 2004. Etched with
58,621 soldiers’ names, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was designed in 1981 by Maya Ying
Lin, a 21 year-old architecture student at Yale. Next up, trek to the Lincoln Memorial to read
one of the most powerful speeches on sacrifice: the Gettysburg Address. Nearby, the Korean
War Veterans Memorial provides a unique empathetic experience with its 19 life-like, ponchoclad soldier statues.
6. One hidden gem on the National Mall is the DC War Memorial. The domed structure honors
the 26,000 Washington, DC residents who served in World War I. The memorial was restored
in 2011 thanks in part to Frank Buckles, the last surviving American World War I veteran. It
features Roman-style architecture and sturdy columns, and was originally dedicated in 1931
by then President Herbert Hoover. Notice the nearly 500 names engraved in the base of the
memorial.
7. Not far from the walls of Arlington National Cemetery is a permanent installation of one of
the most iconic photographs of World War II: Raising the Flag on Iowa Jima. The Marine
Corps War Memorial—known by many as the Iwo Jima Memorial—is an homage to all marines
who have died defending the U.S. since 1775. The scene was originally unveiled in 1951 and
offers sweeping views of the DC skyline.
8. If you’re touring the Smithsonian museums on the Mall, you’ll definitely want to pay a visit
to the National Museum of American History. The permanent exhibit The Price of Freedom:
Americans at War chronicles our nation’s conflicts and the many sacrifices made in the name
of freedom, from the Revolutionary War to Iraq. Learn about the impact wars had on soldiers
and their families and towns while also understanding how military conflicts affect the political
and social landscape.
9. Before Quartermaster Montgomery C. Meigs made the decision to turn Robert E. Lee’s
estate into the national cemetery, it had originally existed only a few hundred yards of
President Lincoln’s Cottage on the grounds of the Soldiers’ Home. Now called the United
States Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery, the site conducted more than 5,000
burials between 1861 and 1863. Visit on Memorial Day for a wreath-laying ceremony at 10
a.m. and a complimentary cemetery tour to follow. The Cottage is also open for tours and it’s
strongly recommended that you purchase a ticket.
10. Before you get into the swing of your Memorial Day weekend, head to Jazz in the
Garden—the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden, that is—which will debut its summer
series on Friday, May 22. Each week features a different band between 5 and 8:30 p.m. Bring
a blanket to sit on and feel free to pack a picnic or to head to the on-site Pavilion Café for
sangria and sandwiches.
Sponsored
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6/8/2015